Halved property tax called unrealistic

By JONATHAN TAMARI
Gannett State Bureau

TRENTON

Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr., D-Camden, said Tuesday talk of cutting property taxes in half is "unrealistic."

Roberts said he supports some of the ideas proposed by Assemblyman John Burzichelli, D-Paulsboro, and floated in media reports, but said the state could not afford the 20 percent to 50 percent cuts Burzichelli pondered.

Roberts said lawmakers are considering ways to provide more direct relief to property taxpayers -- likely through government credits that would replace the existing property tax rebates -- and through caps on property taxes.

Those caps, referred to as "circuit breakers," could kick in when property taxes reach a certain level or consume a set percentage of a family's income. Those credits could be linked to the same criteria, but lawmakers are still ironing out the details of how they would work, Roberts said.

One option said to be gaining steam would be selling or leasing a major state asset, such as the New Jersey Turnpike, to get a cash infusion large enough to provide relief.

Roberts said he would favor such a move, under the right circumstances.

"If the private sector can do something better, then the state should permit them to do it," Roberts said. "If the state can gain some value by repositioning or reselling assets, we should very much consider doing it."

Other states have sold or leased toll roads, but opponents worry that private companies could raise tolls or let the highways fall into disrepair.

Meanwhile, two Republicans blasted the ongoing hearings examining ways to cut property taxes, saying the four committees working on the issue have spent months going over old reports and studies instead of proposing solutions.

"The session has become alarmingly stagnant and there is little hope that it will produce the bold action needed to alleviate New Jersey's oppressive property taxes. The committees' calendar of activities so far has been a blueprint for failure," Sen. William Gormley, R-Margate, and Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole, R-Cedar Grove, Essex County, wrote in a letter to Corzine.

They called on Gov. Jon S. Corzine to force the Legislature into session on Dec. 1, then require daily meetings until solutions are proposed.

"We appreciate and share Sem. Gormley and Assemblyman O'Toole's sense of urgency," Corzine spokesman Brendan Gilfillan said. "We have been and will continue working closely with the Legislature to bring about sustainable and meaningful reform to the property tax system."

Jonathan Tamari at jtamari@gannett.com